Tag Archives: cyclists

We have now had an update from the Council on the plans and costs for the Ouseburn DIY Streets project, and there are three things we would like your feedback on:

The proposals and the priorities

there are still some finer details to be worked out, but this is the last opportunity for you to comment on the location and general idea of each proposal

the Cycle City Ambition funding is limited, so based on past consultation we have identified three priorities that will make a big improvement to the safety and look of the area. The Council have indicated that there are likely to be more funds available in the near future so we’re continuing to design up all of the proposals to be ready to go when the opportunities appear.

How to create a sense of place on the DIY Streets, using colour, design and street furniture

The aim here is to slow traffic coming around the corner of Stepney Bank and Lime Street where there is poor visibility and often horses and pedestrians crossing by widening the footpath and creating a raised table. This was the most popular idea during the Ouseburn Festival street trial, particularly the use of colour and design.

The aims here are to establish a safe pedestrian route between Shieldfield Lane and Boyd Street/Stepney Road by narrowing down the over-sized junction, to create a colourful, sociable space at one of the key entrances to the Valley with bike parking and places to sit, and to clarify priority lines on the road to remove the current confusion for road users.

The aim here is to slow down traffic speeds, create a safe crossing point and widen the footpath where it is very narrow next to the bridge arch. We’ve found that there are a lot of people crossing in this location – either heading north/south along Stepney Road, travelling to Hotspur School and City Stadium, or taking horses up to the outdoor riding arena.

This is another key entrance to the Valley and the main route to public transport and nearby homes. As a priority we are proposing wider footpaths at the top of the bank to create an attractive space for pedestrians, and to encourage road users to slow down.

Plans for the second phase are to widen footpaths along the whole length of the street and resurface them so that they are level across driveway entrances, as well as identifying parking bays to stop pavement parking.

This is also a really important junction as it is a key crossing point for families walking to school from local homes, is regularly used by people leading horses between the indoor and outdoor riding arenas, and can be difficult for cyclists, particularly if they are travelling up the bank and turning into Stepney Road. Therefore the aim here is to slow vehicle speeds and make crossing safer for everyone.

Creating a sense of place

The Ouseburn is many things to many people. The mix of industry, creative enterprise and nature within such a small area makes it unique to the region and its rich history further adds to its charm. As well as improving the layout of the streets we want to reflect this character by making the streets more colourful and creating spaces for people.

There are some examples of what we could do on Lime Street, Boyd Street and Stepney Bank, and we are very open to your ideas.

Boyd Street/ top of Stepney Road junction.

Top of Stepney Bank.

Lime Street, at the bottom of Stepney Bank, by The Ship and Village Green.

North-South cycle route

The Council would like to signpost a cycle friendly route through the Valley connecting the City Stadium cycle path in the north to Hadrian’s Way along the quayside to the south.

We would like all of the roads in the area to feel safe enough to cycle along, and as part of this we’re hoping to see a 20mph speed limit brought in, but if we need to identify a route we’d suggest the one shown on the overview plan in red – Portland Road South, Stepney Road, (with the option for an off-road short cut here down through the woodland paths), Stepney Bank, down past the Farm, over the wooden footbridge to Foundry Lane, across at the Byker Bank lights, along Ford Street or Hume Street depending on how things settle down with the Malings development, to Maling Street and out onto Quayside Road.